WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over two billion users. The app offers various features to enhance the privacy and security of its users, such as end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, and two-step verification. Recently, WhatsApp introduced another feature called view once, which allows users to send photos and videos that disappear from the chat after the recipient has opened them once1
What is view once and how to use it?
View once is a feature that lets users send media files that can only be viewed once by the recipient. The sender can enable this feature by tapping on the 1 icon next to the send button before sending the media. The recipient will see a message that says “Photo” or “Video” with a 1 icon, indicating that it is a view once media. Once the recipient opens the media, it will disappear from the chat and the sender will see a message that says “Opened” with a 1 icon.
To use view once, users need to update WhatsApp to the latest version available for their device. The feature works on Android, iPhone, KaiOS, Web and Desktop versions of WhatsApp.
What are the benefits and limitations of view once?
View once is designed to provide more privacy and control to users who want to share sensitive or personal information, such as a Wi-Fi password, a new outfit, or a document. The feature prevents the media from being saved to the recipient’s device, forwarded, starred, or shared with others. The feature also protects the media from being screenshot or screen recorded, if the recipient is using the latest version of WhatsApp.
However, view once is not foolproof and has some limitations. For example, the sender will not be notified if the recipient tries to take a photo or video of the media with another device before it disappears. The sender will also not be able to view the media again after sending it. The media will expire from the chat if it is not opened within 14 days of being sent. The media may also be stored on WhatsApp’s servers for a few weeks after being sent, and may be provided to WhatsApp if the recipient reports it.
View Once Vs Disappearing Messages Whatsapp
View once and disappearing messages are two different features on WhatsApp that allow users to send messages that will be automatically deleted after a certain time or condition. Here are some of the main differences between them:
- This is only for photos and videos, while disappearing messages is for all types of messages, including text, audio, stickers, etc.
- This media can only be viewed once by the recipient, while disappearing messages can be viewed multiple times until they expire.
- View once media does not have a timer, while disappearing messages can be set to expire after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
- This cannot be forwarded, saved, starred, or shared, while disappearing messages can be forwarded, saved, starred, or shared before they expire.
- The media cannot be screenshot or screen recorded by the recipient if they are using the latest version of WhatsApp, while disappearing messages can be screenshot or screen recorded by anyone.
- In this media will expire from the chat if it is not opened within 14 days of being sent, while disappearing messages will expire from the chat based on the timer set by the sender.
- View once media can be restored from backup if the message is unopened at the time of backup, while disappearing messages cannot be restored from backup.
What is the future of view once?
According to some reports, WhatsApp is working on expanding the view once feature to text messages as well. This means that users will be able to send text messages that will vanish from the chat after the recipient has read them. The sender will have to tap on a special send button with a lock symbol to enable the view once mode for texts. The recipient will see a message that says “Message” with a 1 icon, and will not be able to screenshot, copy, or forward the text.
This feature is still under development and has not been officially announced by WhatsApp. It is not clear when it will be available for users or whether it will have any additional options or settings. Some users may welcome this feature as a way to communicate more privately and securely, while others may find it unnecessary or confusing.
Conclusion
WhatsApp’s view once feature is a new addition to the app’s privacy and security options. It allows users to send media files that can only be viewed once by the recipient and then disappear from the chat. The feature has some benefits and limitations, and may be extended to text messages in the future. Users who want to use this feature should update their WhatsApp app to the latest version and be aware of its implications.